This year’s Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly was held on May 6-7, 2017. This page will remain for archival purposes. All of the archived materials will be available here by Wednesday, May 10, 2017.
We rejoice that the offerings from the assembly worship services totaled $15,019.94! This included 301 givers! Thank you for your generosity toward identifying and equipping 35 new leaders in our synod over the next few years.
Post-Assembly Resources:
§ 1-pg written summary (PDF) & (webpage version)
§ 1-pg visual of highlights (link)
§ Digital photo albums:
§ Saturday, May 6 (Facebook album)
§ Sunday, May 7 (Facebook album)
§ Resolutions: (all were passed)
§ 2017-01 (pdf)
§ 2017-02 (pdf)
§ UPDATE from ELCA Churchwide Manager for Official Documentation, Frank Imhoff on 6.22.17, “I write on behalf of Secretary Wm Chris Boerger to inform you of an action that the Executive Committee of the Church Council of the ELCA took at its meeting June 20, 2017. The committee voted, “To receive the resolution from the Southeastern Minesita Synod encouraging the use of “mission support” instead of “benevolence”; To refer the resolution to the Office of the Secretary for a report or for a timeline on when this resolution will receive further attention; and To request that the secretary of this church inform the synod of this action.”
§ 2017-03 (pdf)
§ UPDATE from Bishop Delzer on 6.7.17, “Update from Bishop Delzer on 6.7.17, ” Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ, Resolution 2017-03: “Support for the Palestinians: A Way to a Just Settlement” was adopted at our Synod Assembly in May 2017. As the resolution suggests, I encourage you to consider carrying out the following actions:
§ Learn about the many and varied aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by checking out the resources that are included below and those that are available at the ELCA website.
§ Call, write, text, or email your congressional representatives, urging them to work for a just and peaceful resolution of this conflict.
May our prayers and our actions help to bring about peace in the midst of what often seems like an unending conflict.
Resources:
§ Copy of resolution
§ Tool to identify your elected officials
§ www.btselem.org
§ www.icahd.org/
§ Talking points following 2016 churchwide assembly
§ Peace Not Walls
§ 2017-04 (pdf)
§ Portico resources (link)
§ Videos
§ Rev. Gladys Moore: Keynote (youtube)
§ Rev. Stephen Bowman: Churchwide (youtube)
§ Pre-recorded video version of Bishop Delzer’s sermon (youtube)
§ Text of Bishop Delzer’s sermon (PDF)
§ “Remind Me Who I Am” by Jason Gray (youtube)
§ Rev. Dr. Eric Barreto: Bible Study (youtube)
§ embRACE: The Bishop’s Forum (youtube)
§ Canticle of the Turning played by the Sunday morning worship band (youtube)
§ Campus Ministry Update (youtube)
§ Bishop Delzer’s Annual Report (youtube)
§ Rev. Emmanuel Kaghondi: Psalm 150 (youtube)
§ Kathy Chatelaine (youtube)
§ Rev. Emily Carson: Sermon (youtube)
§ Text of Rev. Emily Carson’s sermon (PDF)
§ Recorded LiveStream of Sunday’s worship (link)
§ This year’s award recipients (youtube)
§ Puppet Bishop videos
§ A Mighty Fortress (youtube)
§ Welcome to Assembly (youtube)
§ What I Learned at Assembly (youtube)
§ What is Synod Council (youtube)
§ May 6 Recap (youtube)
§ Visiting the Office of the Bishop (youtube)
Pre-Assembly Resources:
§ 1-pg Guide to the Assembly
§ 1-pg Guide to the Pre-Assembly Report
§ Pre-Assembly Report
§ ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS:
§ 2017-3 (PDF)
§ 2017-4 (PDF)
Registration costs:
§ Saturday Learning Event (workshops): $25 (registration is required)
§ Youth: $85
§ Early Adult Registration (by April 7, 2017): $180
§ Late Adult Registration (by April 21, 2017): $250
Learning Event Information: Link
Printable Registration Forms: Link
Event Schedule: Link
Pre-Assembly Report: Link
Worship Resources: Please contact Rev. Emily Carson, Director of Communications, at carson@semnsynod.org or 507-280-9457 if there are additional formats of these materials that would be most convenient for you. If you would like a DVD of the sermon, please email Kari MacIver at maciver@semnsynod.org.
§ Entire worship booklet for Assembly including services for May 6 & 7 (PDF)
§ Pre-recorded video version of Bishop Delzer’s sermon for May 7, 2017 (Youtube)
§ Music video Bishop Delzer refers to (Youtube)
§ Copyright EMI Christian Music and Capitol CMG Publishing
§ Written version of Bishop Delzer’s sermon which includes song lyrics (PDF)
§ Stream where the assembly’s worship service can be viewed live from 8:30am-9:30am on May 7, 2017 (link)
Offering: In the next three years, 35 active rostered leaders in the synod will be eligible for retirement which will leave many ministry openings in congregations. There are not enough leaders to fill those spots. The synod only received two new candidates this spring to take ministry calls because less people are going to seminary. You can be a part of boosting leadership numbers. This year’s Synod Assembly offering will be directed toward identifying and equipping new rostered ministers through Leading Together, a special way the people of our synod choose to financially respond to the Spirit’s call. The synod has developed plans to identify 35 new ministry candidates by the end of 2019. Your offering dollars will help to guide these individuals into effective leadership in their calls as pastors, deacons, and synodically authorized ministers. Thank you for your generosity toward this year’s assembly offerings.
Update: A $2000 match gift has been pledged. If 200 people give at assembly, a generous donor will contribute $2000 extra dollars!
§ Offering Promo #1 (Youtube)
§ Offering Promo #2 (Youtube)
Accommodations: A block of rooms has been set aside at the Doubletree Hotel. Call 507-281-8000 and ask for the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA block of rooms. Or use this link to reserve your room at the discounted rate. April 14 is the deadline for booking a room at the Doubletree to get the special price of $129 plus tax. A list of other hotels is available at www.rochestercvb.org/stay.
Additional Information: Click here for information about how many lay voters can attend from your congregation.
Promotional Materials: Link
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Southeastern Minnesota Synod Office